Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Thoughts for Today:This is a really difficult teaching in our tolerance oriented culture. But let me put it simply: God is against homosexuality. For example, Leviticus 20:13a, "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable." When Asa, a man who was righteous in the sight of the Lord became king the first thing he did was take "the sodomites out of the land" (see KJV -- 1 Kings 15:11-12). The Bible is very clear on this topic.
As New Testament believers we are not called to eradicate homosexuals from the land; however we are called to remove the thinking from our hearts and minds that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle for Christians. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Notice where homosexuality is placed within this passage -- in the middle, between adulterers and thieves. The Bible does not consider homosexuality to be any more or less acceptable than adultery or thievery. Think about that for a moment.
Questions to Ponder:The city of Corinth was the homosexual center of the Roman Empire, yet Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:11, "And that is what some of you were [past tense]. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." In God's eyes, homosexuality is unacceptable (as are a multitude of other sinful activities) -- but it is changeable. How? By the blood of Jesus. Are you struggling with sin? Only Jesus has the power to change us from the inside out -- whether from the sin of arrogance, gluttony, alcoholism, adultery or homosexuality. If you are struggling with sin, will you turn and repent today?